NorthWest Florida Astronomy Association

This event at Henderson Beach state park was not like any of our past events here. As we arrived an hour before our published start time, there was already a long line of ‘guest observers’ waiting. Even before we arrived park staff had setup a comfort stand to hand out water to those that would need it, so we took advantage of their help and gave them the eclipse glasses that we brought for the guests.

Guest observers waiting for 11:00 AM

Finally, the line starts to move.

Meanwhile we started setting up the solar equipment. Dean Covey and Tom Haugh each set up two telescopes; one white light filtered and one H-alpha. Robert Forrester brought his white light filtered Maksutov for his first public star gaze with the NWFAA. He also setup a static display with information and handouts about the eclipse and the Sun. His help was greatly appreciated.

Tom checks the 3rd mount’s compass heading.

Guest observers getting a ‘before’ view of the Sun.

As we finished setting up those scopes, the clock chimed 11:00 and the crowd started to gather at each of the scopes. Lines formed and we were busy from then until well past maximum eclipse. If fact, we were so busy that Tom did not have the chance to finish setting up his third telescope. Unfortunately, that was the scope with the piggyback camera to record the eclipse, so he was not able to get any photos. Dean wasn’t able to get any either while he manned his two scopes.

Eclipse underway.

Watching the observers watching the eclipse.

The rarity of the event led to great coverage by our local media. The Northwest Florida Daily News and Channel 13 out of Panama City sent teams to cover the eclipse.

Northwest Florida Daily News live streams a report. Note the un-scoped mount in the background.

Channel 13 live from Henderson Beach.

Although none of the NWFAA members got the chance to get any photos of the eclipse, one of our guests did. He was kind enough to send us some that were taken through the eclipse glasses that were handed out at the beginning of the event.

Near maximum obscuration.

Past maximum.

The park ranger’s first estimate of attendance was 1,400 and with the uninterrupted flow of observers, we believe them. The weather started out with some high hazy clouds, but well before first contact the skies overhead were clear. Luckily, the ominous clouds to the north stayed away until well after last contact and most of the crowd had left. But ultimately, the skies darkened, the wind picked up and we scrambled to get packed before the rain started. Thankfully, it didn’t.

Hurry!

Frank, Robert, Tom and Dean (L-R)

We would like to thank the Henderson Beach rangers for their support of our event. We also need to thank Donna Haugh for her support and photography. And finally, we need to thank guest observer Artis Coleman for his pictures of the eclipse and of the crowd. Thank you all.

Our first visit to Parkwood Estates was our second attempt after the first was postponed due to weather. Unfortunately, what looked like better weather conditions deteriorated until the skies were very overcast before the Sun even set. Tom Haugh held a question and answer session for the assembled crowd until Jupiter finally made an appearance through a few holes in the clouds.

Tom answers questions while stalling for clear skies.

Dennis answers guest observer questions.

In addition to Tom’s telescope, Dennis Hausch, James Dubben and Robert Sutphen all brought scopes in hope of clear skies. The clouds slowly broke revealing a 6 day old Moon. Those guests who waited out the sky were able to ultimately view Vega, Epsilon Lyrae, the Ring Nebula (M 57) and the great Hercules cluster (M 13).

A line finally forms at Roberts 8″ Celestron.

James aims the 16″ for a young observer.

Eden Gardens State Park is just down the road from Grayton Beach State park and since it was only one month since the Grayton Beach event the same celestial objects were still visible. Once again, our early guest observers were able to view Jupiter before sunset well before the 4 Galilean moons were visible.

Jupiter’s not visible yet.

A young guest observer gets ready to view Jupiter.

This edition of state park star gaze featured the debut of Scott Morgan’s radio telescope. NASA sponsors the Radio Jove project; an educational project for students, teachers and the general public. Scott built one of their receiver kits and constructed the antenna system. Although the Earth, Jupiter and Io orbital geometry was not optimal to ‘listen’ to Jupiter’s radio emissions, he set up the scope anyway and monitored the observations.

Scott and his radio telescope setup and listening.

‘Observing’ Jupiter

Several club members brought traditional optical telescopes as well. Dean Covey brought his 8″ Celestron and James Dubben brought the clubs big Dobsonian mounted Newtonian reflector. It took several members and several minutes to setup and collimate, but the 16″ aperture is well worth the effort. The Ring Nebula (M 57) just starts to show some color when the big scope is pointed its way. Other objects viewed were the Whirlpool Galaxy (M 51) and the Great Hercules Cluster (M 13). Additional optical telescopes were setup by Tom Haugh and Robert Sutphen. This star gaze also featured a second debut. Robert has his classic orange 8″ Celestron mounted on a brand new goto mount.

Dave, Robert and James assemble the clubs 16″ Dobsonian.

James and Ken collimate the 16″.

Our binocular observers also supported the star gaze. Dave Halupowski and granddaughter Kennedy made the trek with Dave’s ever popular binocular chair, and Ken Leone brought his tripod mounted 70mm Oberwerks binoculars.

Our first public star gaze at Grayton Beach State Park was a qualified success. We setup solar telescopes three hours before sunset as usual, unfortunately, there were only a few guests to take advantage of them.

One person that did show up was photographer Todd Douglas who was on assignment for Emerald Coast Magazine. He was there to get photos for the magazine’s upcoming article on Astronomy. It is always amazing to see the results of an artist at work. The previews he showed us were amazing. We really look forward to the magazine’s article.
As the Sun started to set, the clouds started to gather. But, they were broken enough that we were able to view through the gaps. The first target visible was Jupiter easily seen in the evening dusk. By the time the sky was fully dark the broken clouds were lit fairly well by the surrounding communities. However, it was obvious from the dark skies in between that Grayton Beach, absent the clouds, would have quite dark skies.

We observed an eclectic set of objects. Whatever was visible through the holes, we looked at:

• Jupiter
• M 42 (Orion Nebula)
• M 65 & M 66
• M 44 (Beehive Cluster)
• M 41
• Alcor/Mizar

The skies in between the brightly lit clouds were dark enough that we could view both components of the Whirlpool Galaxy (M 51). That is unusual for a site as close to the gulf as the state park is. We look forward to a cloudless event at Grayton Beach.

One again we thank Marietta Hausch for her event photos.

The NWFAA members who supported our first Grayton Beach star gaze were:

• Frank Atchison
• Tom Haugh
• Dennis & Marietta Hausch
• Ken Leone
• Robert Sutphen

The first 2017 public star gaze at Henderson Beach State Park featured one of the better skies we have experienced there. The previous day’s weather left the skies clean and a little more stable, promising a darker sky than usual.

Joining us was Boy Scout Ryan Wethington. He used the star gaze to complete the last requirement toward his Astronomy merit badge. He manned the scope used to train staff members at the facilities participating in our library telescope program.

Boy Scout Ryan Wethington sights in the library teaching telescope.

A thin crescent Moon shows up fine in the library scope.

As usual, we started off with solar telescopes to view the Sun but with the Sun heading toward minimum in its 11 year cycle, the lack of activity results in a rather mundane view. We had our full complement of solar equipment set up but the Sun insisted on displaying little activity. Little activity or not, several of our guests got their very first telescopic views of the Sun.

Frank Atchison shows one of our guest observers the star closest to the Earth; the Sun.

The solar viewing session starts to wrap up as the Sun gets very low in the sky.

As the Sun set we transitioned to nighttime equipment with one of the first objects visible being a thin crescent Moon. As the crowd gathered we handed out star charts and explained how to use them as well as a quick explanation how the star gaze would proceed. As the sky continued to darken Mars came into view along with a crescent Mercury very low on the western horizon.

Tom makes sure everyone gets an April sky map and knows how to use it.

One of our guest observers takes a look through Curt’s big refractor.

The Orion nebula was still high enough in the sky to view along with M-41,next door in Canis Major. Directly overhead M-44, the beehive cluster, completely filled our lowest power eyepieces. Eventually, Jupiter rose in the east with its attendant moons and was high enough to clear the atmospheric muck on the horizon well before the time we started wrapping up.

Thanks go to all the club volunteers who supported the first Henderson Beach star gaze of the year with additional thanks to Marietta Hausch and Dave Halupowski for their fine event photography:

• Frank Atchison
• James Dubben
• Curt Goff
• George & Renee Gollehon
• Dave Halupowski & Kennedy Odom
• Tom Haugh
• Dennis & Marietta Hausch
• Dick Hoey
• Ken Sharp